Fargesia nitida (Mitford) Keng fil. ex T. P. Yi

As the type species of Sinarundinaria, the close similarities between this and Fargesia spathacea show that Sinarundinaria is a synonym of Fargesia. Fargesia demissa is a short and beautiful variant, but it has not been given any new status within F. nitida.

This species is an important source of food for the giant panda.

Rhizome neck 10–13 cm, 1–2 cm in diam. Culms 2–4 m, 1–2 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 11–20 cm, initially sparsely white powdery, glabrous; wall 2–3 mm thick; supra-nodal ridges weakly prominent; sheath scar prominent. Branches 15–18 per node, deflexed. Culm sheaths persistent, purple or purple-brown, triangular-elliptic, usually longer than internodes, leathery, glabrous or sparsely white-gray setose, longitudinal ribs prominent, margins glabrous, apex triangular; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule purple, arcuate, ca. 1 mm, margin densely ciliolate; blade reflexed or erect, triangular or linear-lanceolate. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath purple, margin densely gray-brown ciliate apically; auricles absent; oral setae absent or obscure; ligule truncate or arcuate, ca. 1 mm, margin initially white ciliolate; blade linear-lanceolate, 3.8–7.5 × 0.6–1 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3- or 4-paired, transverse veins distinct, base cuneate, one margin spinescent-serrulate, other margin obscure. Inflorescence a raceme, subtended by 1–3 spathes; spikelets 1.1–2.5 cm; rachilla 1.5–3 mm; florets 2 or 3. Glumes 1 or 2, leathery, apex acuminate or obtuse; lemma slightly setulose, apex obtuse; palea sparsely setose, keels serrulate, apex bifid; lodicules ciliate. Anthers yellow. Ovary ovoid, glabrous; style 1; stigmas 3. Caryopsis yellow-brown to dark brown, ovoid, glabrous. New shoots late Apr–May.

E and S Gansu, S Ningxia, E Qinghai, W Sichuan.

* 1900–3200 m.

Arundinaria nitida Mitford, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1896: 20. 1896; Fargesia demissa T. P. Yi; Sinarundinaria nitida (Mitford) Nakai.

Fargesia nitida, commonly named blue fountain bamboo, is a clumping bamboo native to Szechwan, China. Medium to small and very cold hardy, but not tolerant of very high summer temperatures. This species bloomed in the years 2002–2005, so is not expected to bloom again for another 120 years.

This bloom is causing problems for the endangered Giant Panda, which consumes bamboo exclusively.